Table



March 6, 1928. 1,661,853

, E. RHODES TABLE Filed Aug. 15. 1924 2 Sheets-Sheet l March 6, 1928. 1,661,853

E.RHODES TABLE 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 13. 1924 Patented Mar. 6, 1.928.'

UNITED stares PATENT OFFICE,

ERNEST RHODES, 0F HERKIMER, NEW YQRKJ TABLE.

Application filed August 13, 1924. seriarm. 731,813.

"lf'his invention pertains to tables, desks or the like, which are provided with a com- The object of the invention is to provide a table or desk of the type described, wherein opening of the machine compartment by the operator serves to immediately position the machine for use, while the partsoit the table which are moved during this operation automatically iold into compact form within the table body so as to be entirely out of the operators way and concealed from view.

.The invention further ctmtemplates a table or" the character described'which whenthe machine compartment is closed, appears to all intents and purposes as an ordinary table and may he used as such.

A further feature oi the table is the sim- '[fllCliY ot construction and operation of the machine compartment mechanism comparatively few parts being used, thereby materially reducing the'cost of manufacture of a device of this character and facilitating repairs thereto when necessary. I

Further objects and features of the invention will appear from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which latter Figure 1 represents a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention which has been built and is now in practical use, the machine being omitted for sake ofclarity and its compartment shown in open andopcrative position with the platform elevated as when the machine is in use;

Fig. 2, a view of the right hand end of the table shown inFig. 1, with the machine compartment in its normal, closed condition and certain of the parts broken away or omitted in order to more clearly disclose the interior construction and the arrangement of the parts; y

Fig. 3, a view similar to Fig. :2, the compartment being partially opened;

Fin 4. a similar View with the compartment in opened, operativecondition and the parts shown in the position of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5, a perspective of the portion of the table top which forms the i'oldable, swinging coveror closure for the machine compart ment and certain of the parts connected thereto; and y y, y r p Fig. 6, a section showing one of the rollers which supports and guides themachine-carrying platform in its movements in the c-ompartment. p

As shown in the drawings, the table proper is made up principally of the fixed top 1, legs 2, end boards 3, 4, center board 5,=aind such'other parts as are necessary to furnish a rigid structure. A front hoard 6 is spaced from thetop 1 and extends between the two center legs 2, to, which it is rigidly con- .nected at its ends. As shown inFig. 1, this provides a space for a drawer 7 at the letthand side of the table between end board 3 and center board 5.. Drawer 7 i with a handle 8. v i r r Between center board 5 and the right hand end board 4 is the machine compartment is provided above which the table top 1 is cut away to receive the compartment cover. This coverv consists of a front section 9 and a rear section 10, wh1ch,when'1n closed position, are

continuous with the table top l,as may he seen fromFigs. l and 2. Inclosed position the upper faces of cover sections 9 and 10 are flush with the upper surface of top 1 and tormtherewith a plane surface, without any protuherances or projections thereon, substantially the same as that provided by an ordinary table.

Cove-r sections 9 and 10 are connected together by hinges 11 on their lower faces and along their ad oining edges,'so that the cover may told inwardly duringits movement in opening-the compartment, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 3 and full lines in Fig. 4.

A frontboard 12, simulating drawer 7 and provided with a 'handle 13,"is rigidly attached at ric'htan lesat each end h 1 means section 9 along its forward edge.

Inasmuch as the means tormounting the compartment cover and the machine-carrying platform for movement are duplicated at oppositeendsof these parts, for sake of clearness, only one set, the lett-handset of Fig. 1 or that associated with center board 01" a bracket lh to the underside ot cover 5, is illustrated in most of the views and will,

he described.

An angle lever lfi is pivotally mounted at 16 on center board 5; so as to swingparallel to the latter, and its forward end is pivotally connected to bracket 14 at 17. At .itsopposite orv rear end lever 15 pivotally connected to the front end of a link 18, the rear end of the latter bein pivotally connected at 19 to the end of a bac lt board 20, forming a rigid part of the machine-carrying platform 21. Platform 21 is cut away at 21 on each end thereof to permit proper movement of angle levers and links 18.

Attached to the under side of rear cover secton 10 near each end thereof is a depending bracket 22 to the lower end of which is pivotallyconnected the upper end of a lever 23. Lever 23 is pivotally connected at 241 to the side of centerboard 5 so as to swing parallel thereto. A rigid arm 25 is provided on the lower end of lever 23 to assist in the opening and closing movements of the compartment cover, as will hereinafter be explained.

Suitably mounted on center board 5 and on the inner face of end board 4 just below table top 1 and rear cover section 10 and a short distance forward of the rear edge 26 of the cut-away portion oftop 1, is a pair of rollers 27, which are adapted to engage with the under side of rear cover section 10 to assist inthc proper movement thereof when opening and closing the compartment. Roller 27 on end board a is not shown, but is located in alinement with roller 27 on center board 5. Rear edge 26 of the cut-away portion of top 1 is bevelled downwardly and rearwardly, as shown. in Fig.2, to permit the ready passage of cover sections 9 and 10 between it and rollers 27. v p on each end of machine-carrying platform 21 just in front of its back board20, is mounted an outwardly:projecting roller 28 by means of a stud-carrying bracket 29 attached to the platform 21 by a screw 30; Fig. 6 shows, in detail, the manner in which the roller is attached to the end of platform 21 and engages with an inclined curved groove 31 provided in the face of center board 5. A duplicate (not shown) of groove 31, disposed in alinement therewith, is provided on the inner face of end board 4 to receive the roller 28 on the adjacent end of platform 21.. Grooves 31 and rollers 28 thus serveto assist in supporting the rear portion of platform 21 and guide it during its movements.

Attached to each end of platform 21 just forward of its center, is another outwardly projecting roller 32, similar to roller 28, and mounted on platform 21 by a bracket 33 similar to, bracket 29 which supports roller 28. Roller 32 engages with a groove 34 provided in the face of center board 5 forward of groove 31. A duplicate (not shown) of groove 34, disposed in alinement therewith, is provided on the inner face of end board a to receive the roller 33 on the adjacent end of platform 21. Grooves '34 and rollers 33, as will be readily seen, support the front portion of platform 21, whether the cover to accommodate the adding machine,

is opened or is closed, and assist in guiding it during its movements.

Grooves 31 and 34 are somewhat similar in form although rear grooves 31 are more sharply inclined than grooves 3 k and extend below the lower ends of grooves 34, so that when the compartment is closed and platform 21 is lowered, the rear portion of the platform will be considerably below the level of the front portion. In other words, platform 21, when the compartment is closed, assumes a downwardly and rearwardly in: clined position. This is necessary in order or the like, which is generally higher at the back than at the front or keyboard portion. It is contemplated, however, that changes in th s part of the device may readily be made, if found desirable, in order to accommodate machines of any character.

Operation: Fig. 2 shows the machine compartment closed, in which position, as here tofore stated, compartment cover sections 9 and 10 are continuous with table top 1, thereby forming a complete, smooth-surfaced top. In this position, front board 12 of cover section 9 rests firmly on front board 6 of the table, the adjoining edgesof cover sections 9 and 19 are in full abuttin relation, so as to practically conceal this joint, and the rear edge of cover section 10 and the upper portion of the rear edge 26 of the cut-away portion of table top 1 are brought together. This, together with the snug fit of cover sections 9 and 10 at their ends with the cutaway portionof top 1, causes the device to present a top surface substantially the same as that of an ordinary table.

Then the compartment is closed, the cover sections 9 and 10 are locked in this position by the mounting means above described and can be'openc'd only by lifting the forward portion of the cover. Any pressure brought to bear upon cover sections 9 or 10, which function as a unit as long as the compartmentis closed, will only serve to more firmly secure them in closed position, by reason of the engagement of front board 12 with front board 6 and the presence of levers 15 and 23 and their connections to center board 5 and end board 1 and to the cover sections. Pressure applied to the top of the compartment cover will be resisted at the front of the cover by front board 6, while any pressure tending to depress the rear end of the cover would only be transmitted in a rearward direction, due to the presence of levers 23, to the forward ends of angle levers 15 at 1T. Inasmuch as points 17 are below the level of the fixed pivot points 16 of levers 15, this would only create a tendency of the forward ends of angle levers 15 to swing downwardly. This is impossible because of the engagement of front board 6 with front board 12, to the latter of which levers 15 lUU are connected. Thus, chance of accidentally opening the compartment in the manner mentioned is entirely obviated.

The parts are so arranged and-proportioned that, when the compartment cover is closed and the platform 21 is in its normal, lower position, that of Fig. 2, rollers 28 and 33 are, all located a short distance forward of the lower ends of their respective grooves 31 and 34, platform 21 being maintained in this position by links 18.

Assuming the compartment is closed (Fig. 2), when the cover is raised by handle 13, the two sections 9 and 10 operate as a rigid unit and are not broken or folded during the first part of their opening movement, while the cover sections swing on angle levers 15 and levers 23 abouttheir respectivepivots 16 and 24, until they reach the full line position of Fig. As the front arms of angle levers 15 start to swing upwardly, the rear arms of levers 15' swing downwardly, thereby bringing these arms and links 18 into longitudinal alinement. This results in a slight backward shifting of platform 21 and retrograde movement of rollers 28 and 33 in their grooves 31 and 34, after which, as the rear arms of levers 15 continue their downward movement, platform 21 moves in a forward and upward direction, guided by the rollers in their grooves, until, as shown in Fig; 3, the forward portion of platform 21 projects over the rear edge of front board 6. The pivotal mountings of the compartment cover sections, which include angle levers 15 and levers 18, are so designed and arranged and rollers 27 are so located on center board 5 and end board 4, as to cause the end marginal portions of the lower face of cover section 10 to engage with these rollers when the cover is moved from the closed position of Fig. 2 to the full line, partially open position of Fig. 3. By means of this arrangement, upon further upward movement of the cover, section 10 thereof rides on rollers 27 which latter, due to the restraining influence of the forward arms of angle levers 15 on cover section 9, bind on the under side of cover section 10 forward of the pivotal connections of levers 23 thereto, causing the cover to break along its hinged joint. swing on levers 23 about their pivot points '24 until it reaches the dotted line position shown in Fig. 3, during which movement cover section 10 swings backwardly out of engagement with rollers 27. Cover section 9, simultaneously with this movement of section 10, swings on levers 15 about their pivots 16 to its dotted line position shown in Fig. 3. During this same movement of the cover parts, platform 21, by reason of the connection of links 18 to the back board 20 thereof and to the lower forwardly swing- Cover section 10 continues to ing ends of angle levers15, is drawn or elevatedto a' substantially horizontal position forward of its normal lower position,

rear portion of platform 81 to rise more quickly than the front Portion thereof during this movement, so that the platform will be in 'a substantially horizontal position i when the cover parts have reached the dotted line position of Fi 3. It will be noted that, in this dotted line position, there is still a certain amount of clearance between the rollers 28 and'33 and the upper closed ends of their respective grooves.

The front cover section 9having now passed to the rightof pivots 16 of levers 15 (dotted line position, Fig. '3), the weight of the parts will cause them to gravitate towards the full open position shown in Fig. 4. During the first partof thismovement, the lower ends of angle levers 15,

.which are connected to the front ends of links 18, will reach and then passto the rear of the foremost points of their swinging movements,.thus first moving platform 21 and its rollers 28 and 33 slightly forward and then backward. At this point, rollers 33 are prevented from moving further by reason of the engagement of the front board 12 of cover section 9 with the upper edge of the back 'ooard 20 of platform 21, upon which it rests to prevent further downward moven'ient of the lower portion of front board 12. Atthis point, front board 12 is inclined somewhat upwardly and rearwardly and cover section 9 inclined somewhat forwardly and upwardly,'so that upon applying slight pressure to front board '12, it may be moved to its horizontal position and cover section 9 to its upright position (Fig. 4). This causes cover, section 10 to swing further forwardly and upwardly, by reason of its connection to levers 23, until its rear edge abuts a stop 35 providedon the inner face of end board 4. The purpose of stop 35 is to prevent the movement of the parts to such an extent, during the opening opera- 7 tion, that front board 12 mightbecome disengaged from back board 20 of platform. 21,

inoperative. v

A It will be noted that,as the parts pass from the dotted line position of Fig. 3 to which would render the device temporarily the open position of 4, links 18, by

reason of their connection to back board 20 of platform 21 and to the lower ends of angle levers 15, are elevated above the pivot points 16 of angle levers 15. This provides an eifectivelock for the parts of the compartment cover when in open positionand permits operation thereof only .by proper manipulation of handle13 to raise cover sec tion 9 and the parts connected thereto. Any other movement of these parts will only tend to more firmly secure them in open position.

In order to assist in the opening and closing movements of the cover parts and increase the ease with which these operations may he pcrtoruiol. the arms 25 ot' levers 23 are. designed to engage at certain times with the. inner taco ot rear cover section 10. Thus, it may be seen that, in the dotted line position ot the parts in Fig. 3, during the open movement of the cover parts the outer extremity of arm of lever 23 has just engaged the inner face oi cover section 10, due to the swinging ot lever 23 about its pivot 24 caused by the downward movement of cover section 10. As the downward and then forward swinging movement of cover section 10 about the pivots 2st of levers .23 continues, it is assisted by, the pressure of the extremities of arms 25 of levers 23 against the upper portion oi cover section 10. Towards the end of the tor-ward swinging movement of cover section 10. the'lattcr moves away from the extremities of the arms 25 (Fig. 4). due to the further downward movement ot front cover section 9. I

In closing the machine coinpartn'lent from the full open position'of Fig. 1-, the parts all operate in the reverse order, but in the same manner as described with reference to the movement from closed to open or operative position. The operator simply grasps the handle .13 and exerts an upward and forward pull thereon. This first results in the return of the parts to the dotted line position of Fig. 3. During: this movement, due to its connection to cover section 9, cover section 10 swings rearwardly and upwardly against theouter extremities of the arms 25 of" levers This action assists in the counter-clockwise swinging movement of levers 23 about their pivots 2i and imparts a rearward and upward thrust to the lower part of cover section 10. thus materially aiding in the return of the cover parts towards closed position.

As the pull on the handle13 is continued, the partsmove from the dotted line position to the full line position of Fig. 3, resulting in the partial lowering of plati'ormQl by means of links l8 and angle levers 15 to which the latter are connected. During the first part of this movement, the outer extremities of arms 2:") of levers Q3 swing out of engagement with the inner face of cover section 10, as the connections between levers E23 and brackets :22 straighten out. In its movement from the dotted line to the full line position of Fig. 3, rear cover section 10 again engages with and rides on rollers 27, which latter serve. as the parts approach the. full line position of Fig. 3, to unfold or straighten out the cover sections so that their adjoining edges are in full abutting relation and the sections are disposed in the same plane.

From the full. line position-of Fig. 3. the parts readily gravitate into the closed position of Fig. 2 with front board 1'2 resting on front board (3 of the table and platform 21 in its fully lowered position.

Various changes in the devi e may readily be made without departure from the spirit of the invention and it is accordingly not intended that the invention shall be restrict ed to the means shown except as the same may no limited by the appended claims.

hat is claimed is: r

i. A table having an opcirtopped coinpartment therein; a cover tor said compartment consistingof two iruegral parts pivotall connected together for completely covering said compartment; and means for guiding the cover alternatively between two positions. in one of which it closes the top of said com imrtment and in the other of which the front portion of the cover extends downward behind the compartment and the rear portion of the cover extends across the bottom of the compartment in a substantially lmrizontal position.

A table having a top and provided with a compartment therein; a cover for said compartment consisting of two integral parts pivotally connected together for completely covering said compartment; and connecting means between said cover sections and table, adapted, upon movement of the cover, to cause said front section to assume an upright position at the rear of the compartment and said. rear section to assume a substantially horizontal position beneath the table top.

3. A table provided with. a compartment therein; a movable cover for completely covering the coml'iartment normally Forming part of the table top and comprising; a front section and a rear section only hingedlv connected together along their adjoining edges; a pair of lovers pivotally connecting said front cover section to the table; and a pair of levers pivotallv connecting said rear cover section to the table. said pairs of levers serving. upon movement of the cover. to cause the front cover section to assume an upright position at the rear of the compartment and the rear cover section to assume a horizontal position across the bottom of the compartment. p

4. The combination of a table structure having an open-topped compartment therein; a platform mounted in said compartment and movable herein between a lowered downwardly and rearwardlv inclined position and a substantially horizontal raised position; a two-piece articulated cover for said compartment; operative connections bet ween the cover and the platform and means for guiding said cover alternatively between two Nil positions, in one of which it closes the top of said compartment when said platform is in its lowered position, and in the other of which it extends downward behind and forward beneath said platform whenithe latter is in its raised posi ion.

5. The coi'i'ibination of atable structure having an open-topped compartment there in; aplatform movable in said compartment between a raised position and a lowered position; an articulated cover for said compartment; and linkage connecting said cover and said platform and constructed and arranged to guide the same between two alternative positions, in one of which the platform is lowered while the cover closes the top of said compartment, and in the other of which the platform is raised and the cover extends downward behind and forward beneath the platform.

6. A table provided with a compartment; a movable cover for said cou'ipartment comprising a front section and a rear section hingedly connected together along their adjoining edges; a pair of levers pivotally connecting said front cover section to the table; a pair of lovers pivotally connecting said rear cover section to the table, said pairs of levers serving, upon movement of the cover from its normal closed position to its open, operative position, or vice versa, to cause the front cover section to swing from its normal position to an upright operative position at the rear of the compartment, or vice versa, and the rear cover section to swing from its closed position to a substantially horizontal operative position at the bottom of the compartment, or vice versa; and means, controlled by the movements of said second mentioned pair of levers, to assist in the swinging movements of the rear cover section.

7. A table provided with a compartment therein; a movable cover for said con'ipartment comprising a front Section and a rear section hingedly connected together along their adjoining edges; a pair of levers pivotally connecting said front cover section to the table; a pair of levers pivotally connected at their upper ends to said rear cover section and at their lower ends to the table, said pairs of levers serving, upon movement of the cover from its normal closed position to its open, operative position, or vice versa, to cause the front cover section to swing from its normal posit-ion to an upright operative position at the rear of the compare ment, or vice versa, and the rear cover section to swing from its closed position to a substantially horizontal operative position at the bottom of the compartment, or vice versa; and a pair of rigid arms projecting at angles from the lower ends of said second mentioned pair of levers, the outer ends of which arms are adapted to engage with said rear cover section to assist in the swinging movements thereof. i

8. A table provided with acompartment therein; a movableffoldable cover for said compartmentcomprising a front section and a rear section pivotally connected together and disposed in a single plane when in normal, closed position; means for supporting said front cover section for swinging movement on the table from its normal closed position to an upright, operative position at the rear of the compartment, and vice versa; means forsupporting said rear cover section for swinging movement on the table from normal, closed position to a substantially horizontal position at the bottom of the compartment and vice versa; and means located on the table for engagement with one of said cover sections, during its swinging movements, to initiate the folding and unfolding movements of the cover.

9. A table provided with a compartment therein; a movable, foldable cover for said compartment comprising a front cover sec tion and a rear cover section hingedly connected together on their lower faces along their adjoining edges and disposed in a sin gle plane when in normal closed position; a pair of levers pivotally connecting said front cover section to the table for swinging'movement from its normal closed position to an upright, operative position at the rear of the compartment and vice versa; a pair of lovers pivotally connecting said rear cover section to the table for swinging movement from its normal closed posit-ion to a substantially horizontal operative position at the bottom of the compartment and vice versa; and a pair of rollers mounted on opposite sides of the compartment in the path of movement of said rear cover section for engagement with the lower face thercof during the swinging movements of Said section, to initiate the folding and unfolding movements of the cover.

10. A table having a front board and provided with a compartment; a movable cover for said compartment comprising front and rear sections pivotally connected together, said front section having a front board; means pivotally connecting said front cover section to the table for swinging movement from its normal closed position to an upright, operative position at the rear of the compartment and vice versa; means pivotally connecting said rear cover section to the table for swinging movement from its nor mal position to a substantially horizontal, operative position at the bottom of the compartment and vice versa; a platform located in the compartment and normally assuming a downwardly and rearwardly inclined position, said platform being adapted for movement from its normal position to a forward elevated operative position and vice ill) verse means connecting the platform to the cover to cause movement of the platform upon operation of the cover; means on the table for guiding said platform, upon movement thereof, from its normal to its operative position and vice versa, said platform having a back board with which the front board of said front cover section engages when the parts are in operative position,

While the front board of said front cover 10 section engages with the front board of the table when the parts are in normal closed position.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

ERNEST RHODES. 

